Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman O'Donnell was shot and killed while investigating suspicious activity at a local pool hall that was closed. The owner who was still inside in the darkness was waiting for a burglar(s) who was breaking into his business almost every night. Both mistook each other for a burglar and and opened fire on each other. Patrolman O'Donnell was killed. The owner was not hurt.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-249A3871- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman O'Donnell served with the Benwood Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Benwood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Donnell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Dominick O'Donnell is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In WV, 54 of 232 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 23.3% of this state's fallen. That is 23.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Dominick O'Donnell's cause is highlighted.
How John Dominick O'Donnell Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Dominick O'Donnell is highlighted in Jan.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Benwood Police Department are honored on badge.nw.